Warner and Smith should play in Ashes, says Aussie - but Trevor Bayliss hasn't been in touch!
Wednesday 16 January 2019 20:18, UK
Former head coach Stuart Law says Windies won't be pushovers on their home patch in the upcoming three-Test series against England.
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Law, who resigned from his role last month to become Middlesex head coach, says England can expect a challenging tour despite the Windies' lowly eighth-placed world ranking.
The Australian, who will be a studio guest during Sky Sports Cricket's coverage of the series, warned: "They've got extreme pace; there are some kids who can crank it up to 90mph-plus.
"They've got some good, high-quality batsmen too - Shai Hope is just starting to understand the way he can play. Kraigg Braithwaite is a rock at the top of the order for them, so they are tough to beat in home conditions.
"It's going to be a series where England will go in as outright favourites but West Indies have got the opportunity to get one over them.
"It's very difficult - 14 islands fighting for one goal and the islands are in competition all the time, so it's very difficult to create that sense of team.
"But they do their very best to get that happening. It's a very tough job to get everyone singing from the same hymn-sheet but, team-wise, they are very much together when they are on the cricket field, which is a credit to them.
"They drop their island rivalries and fight hard for one goal. They are getting better; there is still a way to go but they are moving in the right direction."
Law said that compatriot Trevor Bayliss, who is due to stand down as England head coach at the end of this summer's Ashes, has not tried to pick his brains as yet.
"No - TB doesn't really have to do that," he added. "He knows what he's going into; he knows what he's coming up against. But if he does want to make a call, I'll have a chat. He's one of my mates."
The Windies tour marks the start of a frenetic international schedule for England, which includes the Cricket World Cup and the Ashes.
Law says he'd welcome the sight of compatriots David Warner and Steve Smith representing Australia once they've both completed their 12-month ban for their role in the ball-tampering saga, in March.
"You always want your home country to do well; I fought hard to play for Australia and continue to watch with great interest," he said.
"To see them going through what they are going through is tough to take but they are good players - they've just got to work out how to get back on track. They've got good people around them.
"Justin Langer has just been in for a short period of time but he is a good man to have around in those kinds of situations. It's up to the players to stick their hand up and show a bit more fight.
"Personally, I would [put Warner and Smith back in]; I think a lot of people will want that to happen. There will also be the odd one or two saying they should go back into club cricket and work their way back through.
"But the quality of player they are missing out on, I think Australia would be mad not to use their services straight away."
Law's primary focus, though, is starting his four-year tenure at Middlesex on the right foot as the county aims to return to the top-flight of the County Championship and regain the title they won so impressively in 2016.
The 50-year-old admitted it wasn't a role he felt he could turn down.
"When your office is at Lord's it does make it very difficult to look the other way at it - but also, in a coach's life, you don't really get opportunities to get multi-year contracts as well," he added. "The biggest thing for me was to spend more time in the same country as my family.
"Talking to a few of the players they are really determined to put in the hard yards right now to make sure that come September there is some joy in our dressing room.
"We need to find a style of cricket that we are all comfortable playing and go out and perform under pressure; once those things are taken care of, success will follow."
Watch England's tour of the Caribbean live on Sky Sports this winter, starting with the first Test in Barbados from Wednesday.
